Illumination device and method of use for ophthalmic surgery

ABSTRACT

An illumination device for use in an ophthalmic surgical apparatus, the illumination device including a fiber optic having a proximal end and a connector coupled to the fiber optic. The connector includes one or more of (1) a datum surface disposed a predetermined distance from the proximal end to position the proximal end at a predetermined location within the surgical apparatus, (2) a shutter actuation surface configured and arranged to open a shutter in the surgical apparatus when the connector is being connected to the surgical apparatus, and (3) a visual indicator position to provides a visual indication that the connector is fully inserted into the surgical apparatus. The illumination device may be in a combination with an ophthalmic surgical apparatus.

CROSS REFERENCE

This is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/868,777, filed Aug. 26, 2010, which claims the benefit of provisionalpatent application Ser. No. 61/239,936, filed Sep. 4, 2009, the entiredisclosures of each are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to illumination devices for ophthalmicsurgery and methods of use thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The need to provide illumination to facilitate performance of ophthalmicsurgery in a patient's eye is known. To efficiently and reliably providesuch illumination has been difficult, particularly for vitreoretinalsurgery. A significant factor in efficient and reliable illumination iscoupling of light from a source disposed in a surgical console into afiber optic of an illumination device. The fiber optic acts as a conduitto deliver the light to a surgical handpiece and into patients' eyes.

In addition to the need of coupling light into the fiber is a need toappropriately dissipate heat generated in the fiber optic when the fiberis exposed to the intense light provided by the source. To date, theproblems of coupling light into a fiber and dissipating heat have beenaddressed by providing a metallic heat sink proximate the end of thefiber and using the heat sink as a connector to the console. In such aconfiguration, the heat sink is inserted into a port in the console andretained by friction between the heat sink and the console.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the present invention are directed to techniques forenhancing alignment of an end of a fiber optic within an ophthalmicsurgical console to provide better coupling of light from a source intothe end of the fiber. Other aspects of the invention are directed to afiber optic connector providing shutter control to control lightescaping the console into a surgery room. Yet other aspects of theinvention are directed to ensuring proper connection of an illuminationdevice to a surgical console.

An illumination device, according to the exemplary embodiment, is foruse in an ophthalmic surgical apparatus. The illumination deviceincludes a fiber optic having a proximal end and a connector coupled tothe fiber optic. The connector has a datum surface disposed apredetermined distance from the proximal end. The connector isconfigured and arranged to connect with the surgical apparatus such thatthe datum surface positions the proximal end at a predetermined locationwithin the surgical apparatus when the connector is connected to thesurgical apparatus.

In one example the connector also includes a heat sink surrounding aportion of the fiber optic. The heat sink is also attached to theconnector wherein the fiber optic proximal end is located proximate anend of the heat sink.

In another example the connector is adapted to fit into and move acollar within a port in the surgical apparatus upon insertion of theconnector into the port, thereby opening a shutter within the surgicalapparatus to transmit light through the fiber optic.

In still another example the connector includes a visual indicatordisposed a predetermined distance from the proximal end such that aposition of the visual indicator provides a visual indication that theconnector is fully inserted into the surgical apparatus.

A method of coupling an illumination device to an ophthalmic surgicalapparatus comprising a light source is also accomplished by providing afiber optic having a proximal end, providing a connector with a datumsurface coupled to the fiber optic; and coupling the connector to thesurgical apparatus such that the proximal end is positioned at apredetermined location relative to the light source by interference ofthe datum surface with a surface of the surgical apparatus, therebytransmitting light from the light source into the proximal end andthrough the fiber optic.

Some examples also include a connector coupled to the fiber optic wherethe connector has a shutter actuation surface configured and arranged toopen a shutter in the surgical apparatus when the connector is beingconnected to the surgical apparatus and to maintain the shutter in anopen position when the connector is coupled to the surgical apparatussuch that light from the light source is transmitted into the proximalend and through the fiber optic.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Illustrative, non-limiting embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings,in which the same reference number is used to designate the same orsimilar components in different figures, and in which:

FIG. 1A is a schematic illustration of an example of an illuminationdevice for use in an ophthalmic surgical apparatus according to aspectsof the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a schematic cross-sectional illustration of an example of anillumination device for use in an ophthalmic surgical apparatusaccording to aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic, partial cross-sectional illustration of anexample of an ophthalmic console including a port for connecting anillumination device; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic, partial cross-sectional illustration of anexample of an ophthalmic console including a port having an illuminationdevice connected thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1A is a schematic illustration of an example of an illuminationdevice 10 for use in an ophthalmic surgical apparatus according toaspects of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a schematic,cross-sectional illustration of an example of an illumination device 10for use in an ophthalmic surgical apparatus according to aspects of thepresent invention. Aspects of the invention will now be described withreference to both FIGS. 1A and 1B.

Illumination device 10 comprises a fiber optic 20, a connector 15 and aheat sink 30. It will be appreciated that an ophthalmic surgicalhandpiece (not shown) is provided on the distal end D of theillumination device from which light is projected into a patient's eyeto permit observation by surgical staff, during surgery. The handpiececan have any suitable, known or yet to be developed configuration. Inembodiments having a heat sink 30 surrounding a portion of the fiberoptic, the heat sink is also attached to the connector 15 so that thefiber optic proximal end 22 is located proximate an end of the heat sink30.

Fiber optic 20 has a proximal end 22. The fiber optic is positioned withthe proximal end 22 exposed to light from a source (discussed below)which is disposed within the surgical console such that light can bepropagated through the fiber to distal end D. It will be appreciatedthat proper and consistent positioning of the proximal end 22 isdesirable for efficient and reliable illumination of a patient's eyes.In particular, it is desirable that such positioning be achieved when aused device 10 is removed and a new device 10 is connected to a consolenumerous times.

To facilitate suitable positioning of the proximal end 22, according toaspects of the present invention, fiber optic 20 is coupled to connector15 which comprises a datum surface 25 that is disposed a predetermineddistance from the proximal end 22. It will be appreciated that if fiberoptic 20 is maintained at a fixed location within the connector, asdiscussed in greater detail below, by interfacing datum surface with adatum surface within the console, the positioning of the proximal end inthe z-direction can be achieved. It will also be appreciated that bymaintaining fiber optic 20 in intimate contact with the connector thepositioning of the proximal end 22 in the x-direction and they-direction can also be achieved. Accordingly, the connector 15 isconfigured and arranged to connect with the ophthalmic surgicalapparatus such that datum surface 25 positions proximal end 22 at apredetermined location within a surgical apparatus (e.g., within aconsole) when the connector is connected to the surgical apparatus. Itwill be appreciated that it is typically advantageous that the datumsurface 25 be located near the proximal end of connector 15 (i.e.,relatively near the fiber proximal end 22) to reduce stack-up oftolerances which would limit the precision with which proximal end 22can be positioned. In the illustrated embodiment, datum surface 25 isillustrated as a simple vertical surface; however, more complicatedshapes can be used.

Connector 15 may be manufactured from any suitable rigid material.Typically the material is a heat insulator to prevent transfer of heatgenerated by the fiber from reaching housing or an operator's hand. Forexample, the connector may be made of an acetal homopolymer such asDelrin® available from the Dupont Corporation.

To facilitate control of light emitted from the console by the sourcethe connector 15 comprises a shutter actuation surface 45. Interactionof shutter actuation surface 45 with a shutter in the surgical apparatusis discussed in greater detail below. It will be appreciated that theshutter actuation surface 45 causes the shutter to open, when connector15 is being connected to the surgical apparatus. In addition, theshutter remains in an open position when the connector 15 is coupled tothe surgical apparatus such that light from the light source istransmitted into the proximal end 22 and through fiber optic 20. Such aconfiguration provides advantages over a gravity operated shutter, whichneeds to be manually moved out of the way prior to insertion of theillumination device.

In some embodiments, the connector comprises a visual indicator 60disposed a predetermined distance from the proximal end. The connector15 is configured and arranged to connect with the surgical apparatussuch that the visual indicator 60 position provides a visual indicationthat the connector 15 is fully inserted into the surgical apparatus. Inthe illustrated embodiment, when the connector 15 is fully inserted, thevisual indicator 60 is immediately adjacent an outer surface 62 of ahousing of the surgical apparatus 64 (see FIG. 3). In the illustratedembodiment, the visual indicator 60 is represented by a groove. Ofcourse, visual indicator 60 may assume other forms, for example, araised ridge, and/or a contrasting color, or other suitable visiblefeature.

The illumination device 10 may further comprise a heat sink 30 coupledto fiber optic 20 at a location proximate the proximal end 22. Inembodiments where a heat sink is included, it is typically desirable tomaintain the fiber in intimate contact with the heat sink to facilitateprecise positioning of proximal end 22 in the x-direction and they-direction. That is heat sink 30 is typically a relatively rigidmetallic tube or needle that has a larger enough lumen to allow easyinsertion of an optic fiber during manufacturing but where the lumen issmall enough that the fiber proximal end 22 is able to be reliablylocated in the x and y directions within the tolerances of the designrequirements. In embodiments including a heat sink, it is also typicallydesirable to maintain the connector in intimate contact with the heatsink to further facilitate precise positioning of the proximal end.

It will be appreciated that an embodiment according to aspects of thepresent invention can be provided with one or more of a datum surface, ashutter actuation surface and a visual indicator.

FIG. 2 is a schematic, partial cross-sectional illustration of anexample of an ophthalmic surgical console 100 including a port 110 forconnecting illumination device 10. FIG. 3 is a schematic, partialcross-sectional illustration of an example of an ophthalmic surgicalconsole 100 including a port 110 having illumination device 10 connectedthereto. FIGS. 2 and 3 will be referenced together when describingaspects of the present invention below.

Console 100 contains a light source S. The light source is positioned tobe capable of projecting light though port 110. The light source maycomprise any suitable light emitting apparatus (e.g., an incandescentlamp or an LED). Console 100 may be an ophthalmic surgical system suchas those known in the art that contains apparatus in accordance with thepresent examples or console 100 could be a stand alone ophthalmicilluminator, similar to those known in the art, and incorporatesapparatus in accordance with the present examples.

As described above with reference to FIG. 1 B, the illumination device10 comprises a fiber optic 20 having a proximal end 22 through whichlight enters illumination device 10, and a connector 15 coupled to thefiber optic 20. The connector 15 is connected with the surgical console100. The connector 15 is configured and arranged such that datum surface25 positions the proximal end 22 at a predetermined location relative tolight source S. Typically, a pair of datum surfaces (e.g., one on aconsole and one on an illumination device) achieves alignment. By thistechnique, mechanical positioning between a pair of datum surfaces canachieve and maintain alignment within a predetermined operating range,depending on the requirements of the amount of light needed to becaptured by fiber optic 20. For example, the datum surface 25 whenabutting surface 141 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) may operate to positionproximal end 22 at a location proximate a focal point of lens 150 or atanother position to capture a particular amount of light from the sourceS.

In the illustrated embodiment, port 110 is moveable in direction V uponinsertion of an illumination device 10 into the port 110 to operate anillumination shutter 120. Illumination shutter 120 controls whetherlight is transmitted through port 110. The shutter has an open positionin which the shutter permits light to be transmitted through the port,and a closed position (shutter 120 is shown in the closed position inFIG. 2) in which the shutter 120 blocks transmission of light. A biasingfeature 146 biases the shutter in the closed position. Biasing feature146 in the present example is simply a spring arm that causes shutter120 to return to the closed position when illumination device 10 isremoved; however, biasing feature 146 may comprise any structure thatensures that shutter 120 blocks light when an illumination device 10 isnot connected to console 100.

In the illustrated embodiment, a shutter actuation device 140 includes ashutter collar 143 that slides within port 110. Shutter collar 143 isconnected to an arm 130. Arm 130 has a tapered edge 144 that, when movedin direction V as an illumination device 10 is inserted, forces theshutter 120 downward (i.e., overcoming the biasing feature) via contactwith structure 147, permitting light L to pass into proximal end 22.

Shutter actuation surface 45 is configured and arranged to open shutter120 in the console when the connector 15 is being connected to theconsole. In the illustrated embodiment, shutter actuation surface 45 issized and shaped to interfere with surface 145 of shutter collar 143 inthe port 110 such that, upon insertion of connector 15 into port 110,actuation device 140 opens shutter 120 in the manner described above.

Shutter actuation surface 45 is configured to maintain the shutter in anopen position such that light from the light source S is transmittedinto the proximal end 22 and through the fiber 20 so long as connector15 is connected within port 110.

In some embodiments, one or more features may be present to providefurther retention of illumination device 10 beyond that which may beprovided by friction between the connector 15 and the port 110. In theillustrated embodiment, region or groove 40 having a reduced diameter isprovided on the connector 15 and a detent is provided on the surgicalapparatus to maintain connector in operative position during use. Forexample, in the illustrated embodiment, the detent comprises a plunger122 biased using a flexible bar 124 that is attached to the console byfasteners 126.

It may also be advantageous that surfaces of the connector 15 be beveledto facilitate insertion of the connector 15 into port 110. In someembodiments, it is advantageous to provide features that facilitateremoval of the connector from the port such as indent 70 shaped topermit a user's fingers to be inserted therein so as to reliably graspthe connector.

Having thus described the inventive concepts and a number of exemplaryembodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that theinvention may be implemented in various ways, and that modifications andimprovements will readily occur to such persons. Thus, the embodimentsare not intended to be limiting and presented by way of example only.The invention is limited only as required by the following claims andequivalents thereto.

1. An illumination device for use in an ophthalmic surgical apparatus,the illumination device comprising: a fiber optic having a proximal end;a connector coupled to the fiber optic comprising a datum surfacedisposed a predetermined distance from the proximal end, the connectorconfigured and arranged to connect with the surgical apparatus such thatthe datum surface positions the proximal end at a predetermined locationwithin the surgical apparatus when the connector is connected to thesurgical apparatus; and wherein the illumination device is adapted tofit into and move a shutter actuation device within a port in thesurgical apparatus upon insertion of the connector into the port,thereby opening a shutter within the surgical apparatus to transmitlight through the fiber optic.
 2. The illumination device of claim 1,further comprising a heat sink surrounding a portion of the fiber opticand attached to the connector wherein the fiber optic proximal end islocated proximate an end of the heat sink.
 3. An illumination device ina combination with ophthalmic surgical apparatus comprising a lightsource, the combination comprising: a fiber optic having a proximal end;a connector coupled to the fiber optic comprising a datum surfacedisposed a predetermined distance from the proximal end, the connectordatum surface abutting a surgical apparatus surface such that theproximal end is positioned at a predetermined location relative to thelight source; and wherein the illumination device is adapted to fit intoand move a shutter actuation device within a port in the surgicalapparatus upon insertion of the connector into the port, thereby openinga shutter within the surgical apparatus to transmit light through thefiber optic.
 4. The combination of claim 3, further comprising a heatsink surrounding a portion of the fiber optic and attached to theconnector wherein the fiber optic proximal end is located proximate anend of the heat sink.
 5. The illumination device of claim 3, wherein theconnector further comprises a visual indicator disposed a predetermineddistance from the proximal end, the connector configured and arranged toconnect with the surgical apparatus such that a position of the visualindicator provides a visual indication that the connector is fullyinserted into the surgical apparatus.